Ready to respond

American Red Cross responders Russ Beason and Andy Baker are just two of a team of volunteers who help disaster victims, who many times are left with nothing.

"It's a very gratifying experience," said Beason, who became an emergency responder about four years ago shortly after his wife, Helen Beason, started attending the training courses with the American Red Cross-Illinois Capital Area Chapter.

"We sit down with the victims and help find out what happened, their immediate needs after the disaster and their plans for the future."

Russ and Helen Beason are on 24-hour call to respond to emergency disasters through the American Red Cross.

Andy Baker, who has been volunteering for nearly a year, traveled with Russ Beason last November to assist for his first time with a house fire on a farm between Gillespie and Shipman.

"The owners and residents had to hurry to grab clothing and get outside into the chilly night without so much as a cell phone to call for firefighters," said Beason, a retired educator.

Beason and Baker arrived at the house about 8 a.m. that morning.

"It's a wonderful thing," Beason said. "These people are in need of a personal contact and a compassionate response, and that's what we're there for."

Baker said he knows the responders' work is valuable.

"It's good to be a part of the community and help out when people are in need," he said. "Sometimes we can help and sometimes we can't, but we try to do everything we can to help them."

Baker works with the Latter Rain Ministries in Litchfield and is in charge of the construction of the ministry's All Nations Worship Center in Sunshine Park.

Red Cross responders give disaster victims comfort kits, which include basic personal supplies such as toothbrushes, deodorant and tissues. Responders also try to give children special packages that include a stuffed animal, which often brings them comfort when they have lost everything.

"I am only sorry that we cannot do more to help these people recover from whatever tragedy they have endured," Beason said.

American Red Cross-Illinois Capital Area Chapter is one of the 42 agencies to receive funding through the Southwest Illinois Division of United Way of Greater St. Louis. The funds are used to support the agency's armed services, disaster services and volunteer services, along with programs including health and safety and community preparedness education.